17:30 Cheltenham

Thursday 16 March 2023

All13:3014:1014:5015:3016:1016:5017:30

Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Challenge Cup Amateur Jockeys' Handicap Chase (Sponsored By The JRL Group) (GBB Race)

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 6m 52.09s

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Selected odds by:

Mr Incredible⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins| OR: 145

4/1

Maiden winner over hurdles/fences (19f) at Naas in 2021 but completely lost his way for Henry de Bromhead. Switched to another top yard and dispelled reappearance blip when strong-finishing second in Classic Chase at Warwick (29f) in January. Capable of playing a part if coming here in same form.

Form: 12RP-B2

Annual Invictus³³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Freddie Gordon⁽³⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 144| C

33/1

Didn't really kick on during first spell chasing but made light of 8-month absence to make winning return over hurdles here (3m) in November. Lacklustre display on penultimate start but back to winning ways allowed own way in front at Newbury (3m) last month. More on his plate returned to chasing.

Form: V-P13P1

Beauport⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Zac Baker| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 143

15/2

Likeable, progressive hurdler who made fine start over fences when landing listed Colin Parker Chase at Carlisle in October. Runner-up at Haydock next time and may have just found Grade 2 level too tough in the Dipper here last time. Longer trip/switch to handicaps in this sphere rates a plus.

Form: 214-124

Farinet²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr James King| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 142

50/1

Well prepared when defying 9-month absence to score at Chepstow (3m) in December, jumping superbly and in command from 3 out. Ran well for long way when fifth behind Rapper here on New Year's Day but disappointed when faced with competition for lead at Ascot latest.

Form: 15P-150

Rapper^v1⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly| OR: 142| CD

14/1

Twice successful over fences last season and, equipped with first-time cheekpieces, found further progress when adding to his tally over C&D on New Year's Day. Hard to knock his fifth-place finish in Masters Handicap Chase at Sandown since. First-time visor could well put an extra edge on him here.

Form: 10-9315

Dunboyne^p⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr J J Codd| T: G Elliott| OR: 141

8/1

Very much on a going day when opening chase account at Gowran (2½m) in November and having ran a moody race at Fairyhouse next time, he bounced back in no uncertain terms when just failing to land Thyestes Chase on his latest outing. Evidently capable but no sure thing to be in same mood here.

Form: 66R1P2

Coeur Serein^b³³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr William Biddick| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 140

50/1

Three-time winner over hurdles who ran respectably in staying handicaps here/Aintree last spring. Mixed bag returned to chasing this season, probably flattered by margin of victory when taking 3-runner novices' handicap at Newbury (23.5f) 33 days ago. Mark unchanged but others more persuasive.

Form: 85-P281

Slipway⁴⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: B Pauling| OR: 139| BF

66/1

Looked a stayer still firmly on the up when adding the Southern National to his CV at Fontwell in November. Not in the same form for the Edinburgh equivalent at Musselburgh 6 weeks ago but he remains a low-mileage 8-y-o and certainly not one to be writing off.

Form: 1P51-19

Defi Bleu^p,t²⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr B Lawless⁽⁷⁾| T: G Elliott| OR: 139

40/1

10-y-o who is a twice a winner over fences and he ran well when second in Cork National (3½m) back in November. Below par next 3 starts but he did halt the slide when third faced with stamina test at Punchestown (3½m) 25 days ago. Needs to back that up now.

Form: 6280P3

Royal Thief^p⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Mr J W Hendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: H De Bromhead| OR: 138

11/1

Low-mileage chaser who enhanced his excellent record fresh when running out a 10-length winner of Amateurs' National handicap (23f) at Punchestown in January. The British handicapper hasn't taken any chances but he remains unexposed over fences.

Form: 1501B/1

Lord Accord^p,t⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr D G Lavery| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 137| C

33/1

Useful handicap chaser who capitalised on some leniency from the assessor to score here (25f) in October prior to solid second behind Frodon in Badger Beer next time. Only ninth in Coral Gold Cup next time but entitled to be sharper for his run in Cleeve Hurdle in late January.

Form: 531296

Punitive^b⁴⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Mr J C Barry| T: G Elliott| OR: 137

40/1

Ran well when second behind Anightinlambourn here (25f) in the autumn and dispelled his spill in Troytown when scoring over 29f at Fairyhouse in December, well served by the longer trip. Never figured in Thyestes Chase last time but capable of bouncing back.

Form: 5-22U10

Dr Kananga^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr D Andrews⁽⁵⁾| T: Ben Clarke| OR: 135| D

22/1

Progressive staying chaser last term, winning 3 times. Perfectly adequate return spin (following wind op) over hurdles at Bangor (23f) in November but proved a disappointment in Becher next time. Entitled to be sharper for last month's run over hurdles and assessor has relinquished his grip.

Form: 112-207

Stumptown²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr B O'Neill| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 135

7/2

Hurdles winner who has improved markedly over fences in recent months, off the mark at Thurles (21.5f) prior to following up in emphatic fashion at Sandown (3m) 4 weeks ago, travelling strongly and cruising clear. 10 lb higher mark to contend with but he's still relatively unexposed. Possibilities.

Form: 753711

Fontaine Collonges²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss A B O'Connor| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 135| BF| D

14/1

Two wins from 4 starts sent chasing during 2021/22 campaign and picked up where she left off when adding to her tally at Haydock (25.5f) in November. Probably best not judged too harshly on her run in Grand National Trial at Haydock and she's not dismissed lightly back down in trip.

Form: 141-140

Musical Slave^p³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Derek O'Connor| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135| D

25/1

Put it all together over fences last spring, landing pair of handicaps prior to big effort when runner-up in Bet365 Gold Cup. Finished seventh in Welsh National over Christmas and capitalised on return to calmer waters when landing veterans' chase at Exeter last month. Each-way claims.

Form: 112-571

Anightinlambourn¹²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: Jack Andrews| T: B Pauling| OR: 135| C

20/1

Took sizeable steps forward over fences during second half of last year, deservedly making it 3 wins from last 4 starts over 25f here at the November Meeting. Understandably more on her plate here but she's a likeable mare and well worth a second look despite career-high mark to defy.

Form: 471121

Emir Sacree⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134

50/1

Very lightly raced for this yard but ended last season with success at Chepstow (19.5f) 12 months ago and all the better for his reappearance when third in Masters Handicap at Sandown (3m) 6 weeks ago. Will need to keep the errors at bay once more if he's to get competitive again here.

Form: 1231-P3

Western Zara⁷⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr T Power Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: P Nolan| OR: 132

25/1

Hurdles/chase winner who ran up to best when third behind Punitive at Fairyhouse (29f, heavy) in December, staying on from the last. Never better than midfield in big-field Leopardstown handicap later that month and she's been absent since.

Form: 11-2530

Angels Dawn²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr P A King| T: S Curling| OR: 131| BF

10/1

3m winner over hurdles who has improved in line with longer trip over fences, off the mark at Down Royal (3m) in January and yet to be asked for her effort when unseating 2 out at Punchestown (3½m) 25 days ago. Remains unexposed over fences and worth a second look here.

Form: B8421U

Ballykeel¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Harry Swan| T: G Elliott| OR: 129| D

28/1

Proved largely consistent over fences before deservedly getting off the mark returned to novice company at Fairyhouse (25.5f) 3 weeks ago. Remains low-mileage from a handicapping perspective and gets in here at the foot of the weights. Another holding each-way possibilities.

Form: 433241

Coo Star Sivola²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Maxine O'Sullivan| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 118| C

66/1

Won the Ultima here in 2018 and some useful efforts for Nick Williams in 2020/21. Hasn't looked the force of old since returning from lengthy absence for new yard this campaign, however.

Form: 202/505

Didero Vallis^b²²

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Miss Lucy Turner| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 118| BF

40/1

Useful chaser at his best (third in this race 12 months ago) and good placed efforts on first 2 completed starts this term. However, he's been operating below his best more recently, beaten some way out in veterans' handicap at Doncaster 3 weeks ago.

Form: P-3U355

Non-Runners

Chambard³²

Weight: 11-6| Age: 11

T: Miss V Williams J: Non Runner

Captain Cattistock⁴⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 10

T: F O'Brien J: Tom Broughton

One More Fleurie¹⁹

Weight: 10-3| Age: 9

T: Ian Williams J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Stumptown (7/2), Mr Incredible (4/1), Beauport (15/2), Dunboyne (8/1), Angels Dawn (10/1), Royal Thief (11/1), Rapper (14/1), Fontaine Collonges (14/1), Anightinlambourn (20/1), Dr Kananga (22/1), Western Zara (25/1), Musical Slave (25/1), Chambard (25/1), Captain Cattistock (25/1), Ballykeel (28/1), Annual Invictus (33/1), Lord Accord (33/1), Defi Bleu (40/1), Didero Vallis (40/1), Punitive (40/1), Coeur Serein (50/1), Emir Sacree (50/1), Farinet (50/1), Coo Star Sivola (66/1), Slipway (66/1), One More Fleurie (100/1)

Unsurprisingly claims can be made for plenty and it could just pay to side with ANIGHTINLAMBOURN. Ben Pauling's mare has already enjoyed a fine season, impressively making it 3 wins from her last 4 starts at the November Meeting and an 8 lb higher mark may not prevent another bold showing from this likeable 9-y-o. Irish-raiders Angels Dawn and Mr Incredible are others to consider, with Beauport and the progressive Stumptown also highly respected.